1,2-epoxy-steroids



United States Patent 3,480,620 1,2-EPOXY-STEROIDS Andor Furst, Basel, and Marcel Muller, Frenkendorf, Switzerland, assignors to Hoflmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Filed July 14, 1966, Ser. No. 565,093 Claims priority, application Switzerland, July 19, 1965, 10,075/ 65 Int. Cl. C07c 173/00, 169/66, 167/26 US. Cl. 260-239.55 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Compounds of the formula wherein B is an additional unsaturation between the carbon atoms in the 6- or 7-position and n is a whole integer from 0 to 1; R is This invention relates to novel A-ring substituted steroids, as well as methods of preparing them. More particularly, this invention relates to 1,2-epoxy-steroids and a selective oxidation method for their preparation. The compounds of this invention, which are useful as chemical intermediates, are of the formula t t 1 wherein B is an additional unsaturation between the carbon atoms in the 6- and 7-position and n is a whole in teger from 0 to 1; R is t R is hydrogen or a substituent containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl,

3,480,620 Patented Nov. 25 1969 alkanoyl, ar-alkanoyl or aroyl; X is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy or a substituent containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkanoyloxy, ar-alkanoyloxy or aroyloxy; Y is'hydrogen, hydroxy or. a substituent containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkoxy, alkanoyloxy, aralkanoyloxy and aroyloxy; and Z is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl or lower alkynyl.

As used above alkyl denotes saturated straight or branched chain hydrocarbon groups, such as methyl, ethyl, t-butyl or the like. The term alkanoyl includes moieties from alkane carboxylic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, caproic acid, enanthic acid, capric acid, or the like. The term aralkanoyl includes groups containing an aryl moiety attached to a moiety from an alkane car-boxylic acid. The aryl moiety is preferably phenyl. Thus, the term aralkanoyl refers to groups such as phenyl-acetyl and the like. The term aroyl refers to groups such as benzoyl and the like. The term halogen as a meaning of X signifies all four halogens, i.e., fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, fluorine 'being especially preferred. The term lower alkyl refers to saturated straight or branched chain hydrocarbon groups preferably having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl or the like. Similarly, the term lower alkenyl refers to olefinically unsaturated straight or branched chain hydrocarbon groups preferably having up to 6 carbon atoms such as vinyl, allyl, 2'-methally1, 1'- methallyl or the like. The term lower alkynyl refers to acetylenically unsaturated straight or branched chain hydrocarbon groups preferably having up to 6 carbon atoms such as ethynyl, propynyl, butadiynyl or the like.

Exemplary compounds of this invention of Formula I above are:

(1 1a,2a-epoxy-9fl,10a-pregna-4,6 diene-3,20-dione,

(2) 1a,2u-epoxy-9[i,10a-pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione,

(3 1/3,2[3-epoxy-17,8-hydroxy-9fi, l0u-androst-4-en-3-one,

(4) 1{3,2/3-epoxy-17a-methyl-17,8-hydroxy-9fl,10a-

androst-4-en-3-one,

(5) 1,8,25-epoxy-17u-hydroXy-9B,10a-pregna-4,6-diene- 3,20-dione,

(6) 1hip-epoxy-17a-acetoXy-9 5,1Ou-pregna-4,6-diene- 3,20-dione,

(9) min-epoxy-17a-vinyl-17,8-hydroxy-9fi,10a-

androsta-4,6-dien-3-one,

(l0) 113,2,8-epoxy-17a-(2'-methallyl)-17B-hydroxy- 9 3,10a-androsta-4,6-dien-3-one,

( 1 1 lulu-epoxy-17u-rnethyl-17,8-hydroxy-9;8,10a androsta-4,6-dien-3one.

The compounds of this invention of Formula I above can be prepared by a novel selective epoxidation of 93,10a-steroids of the formula wherein B, n and R have the same meaning as above.

If desired, products of Formula I wherein nis 1 can be selectively hydrogenated to form compounds of Formula I wherein n is 0.

The selective epoxidation is effected using hydrogen peroxide in the presence of alkali. The hydrogen peroxide is suitably used in the form of an aqueous solution, a 30% aqueous solution having been found particularly advantageous. As the alkali there is preferably used an alkali metal hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

The epoxidation is suitably carried out in organic solvents such as aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons, for example, benzene, toluene, petroleum ether or the like; alcohols, for example, lower alkanols such as methanol, ethanol, or the like; ethers such as dioxan, tetrahydrofuran or the like; ketones such as lower alkanones, for example, acetone or the like, or mixtures of such solvents. The epoxidation is suitably carried out at room temperature or below, preferably at below room temperature, for example, from about 10 C. to about C.

The 1,2-epoxy grouping can (as indicated in Formula I by the wavy lines) exhibit 1u,2aor 15,25-configuration, and both groups of compounds are within the ambit of this invention.

The 6(7)-dihydro derivatives, i.e., compounds of Formula I wherein n is 0, can be prepared, not only by selective epoxidation of a 6 (7)-dihydro starting material as described above, but also from the 1,2-ep0xy-A 95,10a-steroids of Formula I by hydrogenation. This selective hydrogenation is preferably effected by catalytic hydrogenation with noble metal catalysts such as palladium.

The 1,2-epoxy-95,10a-steroids of Formula I are valuable intermediates for the preparation of pharmacologically active 1- and/or 2-substituted 95,10wsteroids. They can be converted into these latter compounds by reductive or substitutive opening of the epoxy ring (e.g., by treatment with lithium aluminum hydride or with compounds having acidic hydrogen such as hydrogen halides, mercaptans, thio acids, or hydrogen cyanide). Thus, the opening of the epoxide ring can be effected with lithium in liquid ammonia (for example, by the procedure of South African Patent No. 63/5165) or with lithium aluminum hydride. This reductive splitting gives a 1,3-dihydroxy compound. The selective reoxidation of the so-formed 3-hydroxy group to the 3-keto group is then effected by means of manganese dioxide in glacial acetic acid or chloroform. The l-hydroxy group can then, if desired, be subjected to other reactions whereby other l-substituents are obtained. The reactions of the 1,2-epoxy-steroids of this invention to yield l-substituted steroids, and the utilities of such 1- substituted steroids, are described in more detail in our application Ser. No. 565,110, filed July 14, 1966 entitled 95,10a-Steroids filed of even date herewith now United States Patent No. 3,409,642, issued Nov. 5, 1968. In analogy to the methods described in the aforesaid copending application regarding the conversion of 1,2-epoxysteroids of the 95,10a-androstane series, 1,2-epoxy-steroids of the 95,10a-pregnane series can be converted into l-substituted steroids of the 95,10a-pregnane series. The latter compounds are likewise useful by virtue of their hormonal or antihormonal activity.

The following examples are illustrative but not limitative of this invention. All temperatures are stated in degrees centigrade.

EXAMPLE 1 A mixture of 10.0 g. of 95,l0a-pregna-1,4,6-triene- 3,20-dione, 200 ml. of methanol, 10 ml. of 10% caustic soda and 20 ml. of 30% hydrogen peroxide was maintained at 25 for 18 hours. The mixture was then neutralized with 14.5 ml. of acetic acid, poured on ice-water and extracted with methylene chloride. The methylene chloride extracts (Washed neutral with water) were dried with sodium sulfate and the solvent evaporated in vacuo.

The resultant residue was then chromatographed on silica gel. The ether/petroleum ether (1:1) eluates, pure according to thin layer chromatogram, were combined and recrystallized from methylene chloride/isopropyl ether yielding 15,25-epoxy-95,10a-pregna-4,6-diene-3,20- dione melting at 151152; [a] =-613 (dioxane). UV: xmax, 293 In,u./e=20,500.

EXAMPLE 2 A mixture of 1.0 g. of 95,IOa-pregna-l,4-diene-3,20- dione, 20 ml. of methanol, 4 ml. of 30% hydrogen peroxide'and 5 ml. of 1 N methanolic caustic potash was maintained at 25 for 16 hours. The mixture was then worked up in accordance with the procedure described in Example land chromatographed on silica gel yielding 15,25-epoxy-95,10u-pregn-4-ene-3,ZO-dione, melting point 158160. [a] ='163. UV: x 246 m h: 13,700.

EXAMPLE 3 1.0 g. of 15,25 epoxy 95,10a-pregna-4,6-diene-3,20- dione was dissolved in 30 ml. of toluene, and, after the addition of 300 mg. of palladium/calcium carbonate catalyst, hydrogenated at normal pressure. After the uptake of ml. of hydrogen, the catalyst Was filtered off and the filtrate evaporated to dryness. The so-obtained residue was recrystallized from methylene chloride/ether yielding 15,25 epoxy 95,101 pregn 4 ene-.3,20-dione which was identical with the compound obtained in accordance with Example 2.

EXAMPLE 4 A solution of 1.0 g. of 17a-methyl-l75-hydroxy- 95,10a-androsta-1,4,6-trien-3-one in 20 ml. of methanol was treated at 0 with 1 ml. of 10% caustic soda and 2-ml. of 30% hydrogen peroxide and then maintained at 0 for 3 hours. The mixture was then worked up in accordance with the procedure described in Example 1 yielding 1.05 g. of crude product which upon crystallization from methylene chloride/isopropyl ether yielded purified 15,25 epoxy 17a methyl-175-hydroxy-95,10aandrosta-4,6-dien-3-one, melting point 160 [a] 760. UV: x,,,,,, 293 m/.t/e=20,000.

EXAMPLE 5 According to the method described in Example 4, from 1.0 g. of l75-hydroxy-95,l0a-androsta-l,4,6-dien- 3-one there was obtained 15,25-epoxyl75-hydroxy- 95,10ot-androsta-4,6-dien-3-one of melting point 155-156. UV: k 293 IT1/L/e 20,500. [a] =780. The starting material was obtained as follows: 1

A solution of 15.0 g. of -hydroxy-95,l0a-androsta- 4,6-dien-3-one and 15.0 g. of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinon-e in 350 ml. of dioxane which contained 2% of hydrochloric acid gas was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours. 2.0 g. of sodium bicarbonate was then added to the mixture and the whole mixture was then filtered through 300 g. of aluminum oxide. It was eluted with ether/acetic ester (1:1). The eluates were evaporated to dryness and recrystallized from methylene chloride/isopropyl ether yielding 175-hydroxy-95,l0aandrosta-1,4,6-trien-3-one; melting point 140.

UV; hmax' 220 Inp./e=15,000 252 Hub/6 10,300 301 Inn/e: 13,000

EXAMPLE 6 According to the procedure described in Example 4, there was obtained from 95,10ot-androsta-1,4,6-triene- 3,17-dione the compound 15,25-epoxy-95,10a-androsta- 4,6-diene-3,17-dione, which melted at 230232, [a] :-698. UVf Amax. 291 ITl/L/G ZLGSO.

What is claimed is: 1. A compound of the formula wherein B is an additional unsaturation between the 6- or 7-position and n is a whole integer from 0 to 1;

R is hydrogen or a substituent containing from 1 to carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkanoyl, ar-alkanoyl or aroyl; Y is hydrogen, hydroxy, or a substituent containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkanoyloxy, ar-alkanoyloxy or aroyloxy; and Z is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl or lower alkynyl.

2. A compound as in claim 1 wherein R is an acetylmethylene moiety.

3. A compound as in claim 1 wherein R is a fi-hydroxymethylene moiety.

4. A compound as in claim 1 wherein R is a carbonyl moiety.

5. A compound as in claim 1 which is 15,2,8-epoxy-9/3, 10u-pregna-4,6-diene-3,20-dione.

6. A compound as in claim 1 which is 1,6,2fl-epoxy-9fi, 10a-pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione.

7. A compound as in claim 1 which is Milli-epoxyl7a-methy1-l75-hydroxy-9fi,10u-androsta-4,6-diene-3-one.

8. A compound as in claim 1 which is 1B,2fl-epoxy- 17fl-hydroxy-9/3,10a-androsta-4,6-diene-3-one.

9. A process for the preparation of a compound of claim 1 which comprises treating a compound of the formula Hag US. Cl. X.R. 260999 

